His arm behind her shoulder tightened for a moment. “Let me get that skillet first.”
When he returned from the kitchen, she threaded her fingers through his and led him to the bedroom. With careful hands, they stripped each other naked, avoiding her burns and his slashes, then he guided her into the shower. They left the light off, and the stars through the skylight turned the steam to liquid silver.
She bit her lip as he gently cleaned her burned hand and then pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
“You hurt yourself to help me,” he murmured.
“Actually, it was Wolly who was in trouble,” she reminded him.
“You hurt yourself to help my dog,” he amended. “Should I admit that makes me love you more?”
Her heartbeat stuttered. Love? “Josh...”
He kissed her. “Don’t worry about it. Not your fault I fall for impossible women. My ex-wife only wanted to live in a real city. But you, you’re a damn fairy princess. You probably live in a castle.”
She did not correct him on the fairy princess part, nor did she try to dismiss his comment about falling. She was musetta. She existed to inspire passions.
In silence, she cleansed his wounds, taken for her. Imps were vile but not toxic, and Josh’s coat had protected him from the worst of the damage.
No, she was the phae who would hurt him.
They anointed each other with the last of the salve she had brought. Then she led him to his bed and into her body, trying to give as much of herself as she could. Though what did she really have? She had come into his world carrying only a few spores and her intent to betray his friend. She would leave only a withered toadstool ring and more emptiness around him.
For his part, he played her with an almost cruel gentleness, rousing her to a fierce wanting she thought would tear her apart. He teased and stroked her to the edge of release, his tongue and cock finding every aspect of her pleasure. Each time, he drew back, leaving her panting and longing, only to provoke her higher until she could take no more. With a cry, she arched into him, convulsing around him. He plunged into her with abandon, and she almost hoped he had all but forgotten her in his own fury until she looked up and found him staring down. She came again with his name on her lips, but before she could say more—what she intended, she had no idea—he kissed her and shuddered into her depths.